HSBC - more unpleasant goings on

Just checked- yes loads in the national papers today.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/agreement-with-switzerland-to-secure-billions-in-unpaid-tax

This was four years ago.
The HMRC man, Hartnett, who is quoted here, then went to work for HSBC.

I think there were some very good questions. It's just that the government did not want to answer them.
That's why Gauke was there instead of someone more important.

You give the impression that Bercow was the speaker. He wasn't. It was the deputy speaker, who was quite good at keeping order.

Well yet another 'Urgent Question' Speaker Bercow allowed that was no such a thing.

I think the papers might be asking why these Labour Urgent Questions turn out to be partisan politics which result in an own goal. There were no decent questions, just tripe, and more tripe. They all buggered off from the opposition benches again after they had got their puerile comments out.

Not the finest day in Parliament!

btw, although we live in Switzerland, where I was born and 'bred'- we have no Swiss income whatesoever and have lost about 50% of our income due to exchange rates since we came here in 2009. We get all on our Swiss bank account either! (so not guilty, as it were).

Interesting facts about the government spokesperson in the debate.
David Gauke was on the Treasury Select committee from 2006 to 2007, which means he was in a position to challenge anyone who was brought before it. As a solicitor, he must have been aware of what was going on.
If he wasn't, why does he expect anyone else to know before the whistleblower gave the details to his government?

He was also a director of three banks in 2007;
Swiss One Limited, which became
Zhubank which became
Ivobank.
Three in one year? Why the changes?

In 2008, 2009, and 2010 he was being paid £22000+ by PWC, whilst he was an MP.

As I said, interesting.

djem, not in our local paper- and not seen TV news- so I don't know.

durhamjen understood..

Not many MPs interested. I wonder how many of them are on the list.

What does HMRC stand for?
Helping Mostly Rich Citizens.

Granjura, is this in the news in Switzerland?

Gets me a day out in Durham?
I go on the Park and Ride anyway so it only costs the petrol to the P&R and back.

durhamjen any reason why you can't just post the cheques with a paying in slip? That would save you the trip. Quite of the subject I know

Just switched over from 130, and my MP was on!

Anybody interested there is an 'urgent question' on this at 3.30 freeview 131.

At least the Post Office are now having bank accounts again, Tegan.
There were three banks when I moved here five years ago. Now there is one, and one I refuse to move to, so I have to go into Durham to pay cheques in when I get them. That's the only reason I need a branch.

You obviously do not believe that the Tories were asking Brown to deregulate even more.

granjura; I, too asked for my message to be passed on but was told that they were 'sure that the higher eschelons were in touch with how people felt'. I pointed out that I'd be well fed up if I moved my account and then a week later HSBC started offering interest etc. I've stuck with them because, unlike a lot of banks, they have kept a small branch open in a nearby village that I can get to by bus if I have to, but enoughs enough now.

Mollie, why does a labour administration have to have a strange accent? What are you trying to say?

I have just seen Cameron say what a good man Lord Green is and that the government is doing more for transparency than any other government in the world.
Do we believe him?
Does he think we are idiots?

Dave Hartnett was the HMRC boss who negotiated the notorious tax deal that granted HSBC’s bankers virtually guaranteed immunity from prosecution for any crimes they might have committed relating to tax fraud in Switzerland.

And then in January 2013 he went on to work for….HSBC.

You couldn’t make it up.
- See more at: www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2015/02/09/the-man-who-did-the-deal-that-gave-hsbc-immunity-went-on-to-work-for-hsbc/#sthash.D4xXLv9S.dpuf

whistleblower uncovered situation in 2007 ?
Labour administration then and it happened under their watch to begin with - so much for the 'loight touch' regulation.

There are two separate issues aren't there? One is tax avoidance and that is where Starbucks, Amazon , Boots etc come in by using places like Luxembourg etc. Then there's this HSBC issue which seems to be tax evasion - rich individuals deliberately hiding their wealth in Switzerland. Both issues need dealing with - for the latter, I wish someone would publish the list for starters! I have very dark suspicions as to why we don't get more prosecutions but better not articulate them. World at One had politicians from both sides blaming each other. What I'd like is for them all to say that they are all culpable and have done nothing meaningful for decades and they now intend to act together to deal with the matter consensually. Goodness me, I have just seen something pink flying by

From www.taxresearch.org.uk

"Last year more than 200,000 people were prosecuted for not having a TV licence.

More than fifty – many of them women – went to prison for it.

But HMRC say it is not in the public interest to prosecute tax criminals and the bankers and accountants who set arrangements for them.

How can that be?

Which minister wants to explain how we go to this absurd position?"
-

The tax evasion by big companies is becoming a big issue.

Do Governments of whatever colour have the will and ability to deal with it?
Particularly as it is an international issue.

There is a petition on www.sumofus.org to ask HSBC to give names.
Can't put a direct link to the petition because it gives all my details.

At the same time there is lots in the papers about how generous Osborne is being to pensioners, allowing pensioner bonds to go on for longer.
8000 HSBC bank accounts saving £21 billion averages over £2.6 million per account. Pensioner bonds are chicken feed in comparison.
He would not need to have pensioner bonds to get money in if he sorted out the tax problem.